Chelsea – Mordialloc
Features inside
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGES 18–19 CLASSIFIEDS
PAGES 20–21 SPORTS DESK
PAGES 22–23
An independent voice for the community
FREE
Your weekly community newspaper covering Carrum to Mentone For all your advertising and editorial needs, call us on 1300
Wednesday 18 December 2013
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Beach Boy CARRUM Primary School pupil Sam Ridgeway made a big splash at Life Saving Victoria’s Open Water training at Mentone beach. Full story Page 10. Picture: Gary Sissons
KRA ‘a Labor of love’ By Neil Walker MORDIALLOC MP Lorraine Wreford has accused a residents’ group of being a clandestine Labor Party front inappropriately “propped up” by ratepayers’ funds. Ms Wreford told state parliament last week the Kingston Residents Association was “a closed shopfront for local Labor campaign activities”. Ms Wreford repeated her original accusations made under parliamen-
tary privilege in an interview with The News. She said her recent attendance at the KRA’s October annual general meeting had confirmed her suspicions that the group was merely a Labor Pary front. The Liberal MP said a report from the group’s treasurer showed “Kingston Labor councillors have propped up this front with $2500 in ratepayerfunded councillor ward funds”. Ms Wreford told The News she was
not invited to the KRA’s AGM but decided to attend as it was a public meeting. “There were a lot of shocked looks on people’s faces when I arrived,” she said. Ms Wreford said she picked up some KRA paperwork and noted that the minutes for a previous meeting stated that $2500 worth of ward grants had been received by the group the previous financial year. She said the KRA meeting was stacked with Labor Party branch mem-
PENINSULA FIREPLACE CENTRE BEST PRICES ALL YEAR ROUND Merry Christmas
U6/42 HARTNETT DRIVE SEAFORD PH: 9770 4011 ZZZ SHQLQVXODÀUHSODFH FRP DX
bers and helpers and that she did not think it was an appropriate use of ratepayers’ money to “prop up” the group. The KRA has been running for just over one year and has about 15 members, according to Ms Wreford. “I believe it has been set up as a front for the Labor Party,” she said. “Most of the 15 members are, I understand, card-carrying members of the Labor Party.” Kingston Residents Association president Maureen Lim said she was a
DECKING & PERGOLAS ❏ 50 years experience ❏ Decking, pergolas, bathrooms & kitchens ❏ We can open up your living space ❏ Small/large renovations ❏ Satisfaction guaranteed ❏ All work completed by registered builder ❏ Prompt & reliable service
Call Kevin ✆0418 137 175
member of the Labor Party but that this should not exclude her from involvement in issues that affect the Kingston community. “I’ve never pretended not to be a member of the ALP,” Ms Lim said. She said 14 of the KRA’s 23 members were also members of the Labor Party. “We welcome all new members, regardless of political persuasion, and do not engage in local party politics,” she said. Continued Page 6
7 FACTORIES of
NEW & USED
FURNITURE New to Old Antique to Retro
COME IN & SEE THE HUGE RANGE OPEN 6 DAYS Frankston Auction Mart 42-54 New St, Frankston
Ph 9783 9613
www.frankstonauctionmart.com.au